13 killed in helicopter crash after Mexican quake

Soldiers of the Mexican army walk in front of the rugged military helicopter and van in Santiago Jamiltepec, Oaxaca state, Mexico, on February 17, 2018. A 7.2-magnitude earthquake rattled Mexico on Friday, causing little damage but triggering a tragedy when a minister's helicopter crash-landed on the way to the epicenter, Oaxaca, killing two people on the ground. Pic/AFP

A military helicopter carrying officials assessing damage from a powerful earthquake crashed Friday in southern Mexico, killing 13 people and injuring 15, all of them on the ground.

The Oaxaca state prosecutors office said in a statement that five women, four men and three children were killed at the crash site and another person died later at the hospital. Jorge Rosales, a local reporter who was aboard the helicopter when it crashed, described harrowing moments as the pilot lost control and the helicopter attempted to land in a swirl of dust.

"The moment the helicopter touched down it lost control, it slid-- like it skidded-- and it hit some vehicles that were stationed in the area," he told a Mexican television news program. "In that moment, you couldnt see anything, nothing else was heard beside the sound that iron makes when it scrapes the earth." Mexicos Interior Department said that the helicopter was carrying Secretary Alfonso Navarrete and Oaxaca state Gov Alejandro Murat, who were evaluating reports of damage from the powerful 7.2 magnitude earthquake, before their helicopter crashed.

The helicopter was attempting to land on a vacant lot in the city of Jamiltepec, about 19 miles from the area of Pinotepa Nacional, the Mexican army said.

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